Snowfall Brings Superstar Status to Yorkshire Oaks

Last time Snowfall  came she looked no more than a useful filly, best known for an embarrassing mix-up. Now she returns to York as an absolute star, possibly the very best around, for the Aug. 19 Darley Yorkshire Oaks (G1).

Aidan O'Brien always had faith in Snowfall and she has fully lived up to his highest expectations. There is certainly no mistaking the identity of a 3-year-old who was inadvertently switched with stablemate Mother Earth  at Newmarket last season—she is the one who has won her three races this season by a combined total of more than 28 lengths and is favorite for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1).

Snowfall first hinted she might be something special when she came home nearly four lengths clear in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (G3) in May, although that was a trial rather than a championship race and she was given a typically canny front-running ride by Ryan Moore.

However, there was no doubting her ability after she positively bolted up in the Cazoo Oaks (G1) at Epsom the following month—when you score by 16 lengths, the biggest winning margin ever in a race that has been going for 242 years, you are clearly something well out of the ordinary.

The Juddmonte Irish Oaks (G1) was something of a lap of honor, as she followed up easily by 8 1/2 lengths at 2-7 at the Curragh without having to be asked any real question.

The real question now is how she will cope outside her own age group and sex. This is the first test, taking on older fillies and mares in a race that became a stepping-stone for dual Arc winner Enable  and also went to her narrow ParisLongchamp victim Sea of Class  in 2018.

O'Brien is looking forward to it and said: "Everything has gone well for Snowfall since the Irish Oaks and we're very happy with her. This race has been her aim for a while now and everything has gone smoothly in the lead up to it. She's won at York before and the ground should be fine for her too."

O'Brien also runs Divinely  and La Joconde  and he added: "Divinely is a solid filly who is coming back in trip after trying a mile and six at Goodwood. We think it will suit her and she seems in good form. La Joconde is another good, solid filly who has run some decent races  and always gives her all."

The Yorkshire Oaks serves as a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event, awarding the winner a fees-paid berth in the Nov. 6 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Del Mar.

Happy to be Underdog This Time

Watching your colors carried by an odds-on shot doesn't get any easier, even when you have owned horses for 40 years. So Christopher Wright is quite relieved that Wonderful Tonight , who won the 1 3/4-mile Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (G2) slightly less impressively than might have been expected given her price of 4-5 last time, is second favorite in the Yorkshire Oaks.

That Goodwood success was the fourth in a row for a filly who scored in group 1 company on soft ground at Longchamp and Ascot last October and is being aimed at the 1 1/2-mile Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe this autumn.

Wright said on Wednesday: "We haven't got a lot to lose as we're not expected to win so there's a bit less pressure than there was at Goodwood, where we were the Snowfall. It's good to be in a different position.

"Obviously it's going to be tough, we won't have the ground to suit but hopefully it will be safe, that's the main thing. We want to get two runs into her before the Arc so it's not all about tomorrow. If she runs reasonably well we'll be satisfied."

Wonderful Tonight is third favorite for the Arc in some lists and Wright said: "It's really exciting but I try not to think about it because racing is racing. You have to get excited but you have to keep your feet on the ground. This is a tough game."

Another Oaks Dream for Gosdens

Enable may have retired but that does not mean the Gosdens are without hope of landing another Yorkshire Oaks.

The stable won with Dar Re Mi  and The Fugue  before Enable came along and they will be trying to make it five wins in 12 years with Loving Dream  Thursday.

They are under no illusions as to the task, but the Lordship Stud 3-year-old earned this step up to group 1 company with a stout staying performance to take the Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot in June.

Joint-trainer John Gosden said: "She has won a group 2 and it's only fair for the filly to run in group 1s. We're perfectly aware of the quality of the field, but she's done nothing wrong in her career.

"She's very genuine and it's nice to run in a group 1 rather than carrying a penalty elsewhere. We'll be hoping for a bold effort."

Aiming to Bag Big Win

Eshaada  would fill a surprising blank on one of the most distinguished CVs in racing if she makes a successful group 1 debut.

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum was champion owner four times and won a dozen British classics yet never landed the Yorkshire Oaks and had Taghrooda  beaten at 1-5 by Tapestry  seven years ago.

Eshaada is the least exposed filly in the line-up, having won a Nottingham maiden and a listed race at Newbury on the first two of just three outings, before chasing home Loving Dream in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Roger Varian is eyeing the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1) back at Ascot on Champions day and he said: "This is a very smart filly. I have a lot of faith in her and believe she has more to offer."

Hoping to Close the Gap

Rossa Ryan hopes a return to a mile and half can help Albaflora  close the gap on Wonderful Tonight, who finished 11 lengths in front of his mount in the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood last time.

The jockey admitted: "She's up against the best fillies around and she has a bit to make up with Wonderful Tonight but coming back to a mile and a half will suit my filly, and this ground will probably be more to our advantage than her. She has some smart form and if the two big players don't come to the fore, she's going to be there to pick up the pieces."